Dubai residents to get free ChatGPT Plus subscription? Know all about the UAE-OpenAI deal

ChatGPT creator OpenAI has partnered with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to establish Stargate UAE, a massive artificial intelligence (AI) data centre in Abu Dhabi, as part of its 'OpenAI for Countries' initiative.

"By establishing the world's first Stargate outside of the US in the UAE, we're transforming a bold vision into reality," OpenAI CEO Sam Altman said in a statement.

"It's a step toward ensuring some of this era's most important breakthroughs — safer medicines, personalised learning, and modernised energy — can emerge from more places and benefit the world."

Under the agreement, OpenAI, along with partners Oracle, Nvidia, Cisco, SoftBank, and UAE-based AI firm G42, will develop a one-gigawatt AI computing cluster in Abu Dhabi, with 200 megawatts expected to be operational next year.

This cluster forms part of a larger five-gigawatt data centre project in the emirate, announced last week by US President Donald Trump and UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed.

The UAE's investments, facilitated through G42, could reach USD 20 billion, with USD 8-10 billion allocated to projects in the Gulf and an equivalent amount for AI infrastructure in the US, including Stargate, according to the Axios report.

For every dollar invested in Stargate UAE and the Abu Dhabi data centre, the UAE will match with an additional dollar in US AI infrastructure.

The Trump administration sees the deal, approved by the US government under its export control authority, as an opportunity to expand US power and counter Chinese influence in the region.

However, critics have raised concerns that the transfer of US technology to nations like the UAE, which maintains close ties with China, could facilitate China's access to American technology.